Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21
योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)
प्राणायामेन पवनैः प्रत्याहरेण चेन्द्रि यैः । वशीकृतैस्ततः कुर्यात्स्थिरं चेतः शुभाश्रये ॥ २१ ॥
prāṇāyāmena pavanaiḥ pratyāhareṇa cendri yaiḥ | vaśīkṛtaistataḥ kuryātsthiraṃ cetaḥ śubhāśraye || 21 ||
Nachdem man durch Prāṇāyāma die Lebenswinde gezügelt und durch Pratyāhāra die Sinne beherrscht hat, soll man sodann den Geist festigen und ihn auf eine heilsame, reine Stütze der Betrachtung gründen.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It presents a clear inner sequence for liberation: regulate prāṇa, withdraw the senses, and only then stabilize the mind on a pure support—showing that mental steadiness is the fruit of disciplined preparation.
While framed as yogic discipline, “śubhāśraya” can be understood as fixing the mind on a sacred and auspicious refuge—classically, the Lord’s name, form, or qualities—so the same method supports steady Vishnu-bhakti through controlled senses and focused remembrance.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic technique—prāṇāyāma and pratyāhāra—as preparatory disciplines for meditation and mokṣa.